This confirms yet another quality move by the Nets as they add depth behind a solid starting five. Watson, who started 25 games for the Chicago Bulls in 2012, will add a quality ball-handler and lethal jump shooter to the perimeter.

--End of Update--

C.J. Watson will be Deron Williams' primary backup in Brooklyn for the Nets.

Tornike Shengelia, Nets to Sign Two-Year Deal

Photo Credit: RealGM.com

Per a report via Tim Bontemps of the New York Post, the Brooklyn Nets are on the verge of signing Tornike Shengelia to a two-year contract. This comes after Shengelia averaged 10.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in five games of Summer League play.

Believe it or not, it was actually Tornike Shengelia that secured his spot on the roster.

The Nets acquired the 6-foot-8 forward's draft rights from Philadelphia last month after the 76ers took him with the 54th overall selection, and Nets general manager Billy King said that night Shengelia would likely return to Europe next season... But Shengelia pushed to play on the Nets Summer League team to prove he was ready to come over now, and he took advantage of the opportunity.

Shengelia should offer the Nets some much-needed depth on the second unit. If he lives up to the hype, he could even see some significant playing time.

Nets No Longer in Play for Kirilenko

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Update: Wednesday, July 25 -- Maxwell Ogden

It was reported yesterday that the Brooklyn Nets would no longer be in the runnings for Andrei Kirilenko. It was also relayed that the Minnesota Timberwolves had emerged as a favorite to land the Russian small forward.

This would offer a major upgrade for the Minnesota Timberwolves at a position marred by inconsistency. Andrei Kirilenko would immediately become the team's lead perimeter defender and would be a great mentor for Derrick Williams.

As for how the deal will be constructed, Wojnarowski's latest tweet updates that information.

Kirilenko's deal with the Wolves is expected to include a player option for the 2013-'14 season, sources said.

This can only be described as a great signing for a franchise looking to make their first postseason appearance of the post-Garnett era.

-- Report via B/R's Minnesota Timberwolves tracker

Update: Tuesday, July 24 -- Maxwell Ogden

The Brooklyn Nets have had quite the offseason. They've re-signed Deron Williams, traded for Joe Johnson and brought back a handful of key pieces.To top it off, the Nets are looking to land one of Williams' former teammates.

Small forward Andrei Kirilenko.

Unfortunately, Brooklyn is no longer on Kirilenko's short list. Instead, a former non-contender with more flexible cap room has entered the discussions.

However, it's long been assumed that Kirilenko would join the Russian-owned Brooklyn Nets. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News refutes this idea, saying that AK-47 wants more than the veteran's minimum salary, which is all the Nets can currently offer:

Andrei Kirilenko is not interested in signing with the Nets for vets minimum, according to a source

"We got a couple guys we're talking to. Nazr Mohammed is visiting now in New Jersey with his wife. We'd like to sign him as a back-up and then ... We're talking to [Andre] Kirilenko."

Andre Kirilenko last played in the NBA in 2011. He posted averages of 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game as a member of the Utah Jazz.

Most importantly, he was a longtime teammate of the Nets' point guard: Deron Williams.

Update: Friday, July 20 -- Joel C. Cordes

NetIncome.com reports that Andrei Kirilenko told reports during Olympic training that he is still open to an NBA return this year. He cites the Brooklyn Nets as the only possibility in that report.

This is not surprising, considering the Nets are owned by Russian comrade Mikhail Prokhorov. However, the Contra Costa times also mentions the Warriors as having "AK-47" on their wishlist yet.

During his first few seasons with the Utah Jazz, Kirilenko was a nightmare on fast breaks and a defensive wrecking ball at either forward position. However, teams would be penciling him in as nothing more than a versatile, experienced rotation guy these days.

Would he give up his stardom and big European contracts potential to come back to the NBA?

Update: Wednesday, July 8 -- Joel C. Cordes

Eurohoops.com reports that Andrei Kirilenko has opted to remain in Europe and will sign with his Russian club CSKA.

This is much less surprising than the rumors of AK-47's return. He stands to garner much more money and playing-time overseas where he's still a big name. At this point, he couldn't expect to be more than a key rotation defensive and athleticism cog in the NBA.

Kirilenko was an up-and-coming star nearly a decade ago, but injuries and regression hindered him from living up to the max deal he last played on with the Jazz.

As discussed below, retaining Humphries not only pairs well with Lopez, but also was a sound financial decision considering the capped-out Nets had no way to lure in free agents on anything larger than the veteran's minimum at this point.

However, $12 million per year is an absolutely eye-brow raising number for a guy that no one else seemed to be bidding for and who isn't anything more than a premier rebounder. Still, Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has shown no hesitation in shelling out major rubles this offseason.

Brooklyn will now trot out a VERY respectable starting lineup of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Humphries and Lopez, while bringing MarShon Brooks, Mirza Teletovic and C.J. Watson off the bench. The Nets will be watchable indeed.

This is the smart move for a Brooklyn team that's otherwise devoid of rebounding. Brook Lopez' problems in that area are well documented, Mirza Teletovic is more of an outside player, Gerald Wallace is only a rebounding contributor and Reggie Evans just won't play enough to make a big impact.

That Humphries already knows the system and is a reasonable finisher are just added bonuses. The Nets don't have enough money left to bring in outsiders, but can re-sign their own over the cap.

Still no word as to the length of the deal, though a three-year pact is typical here. The stretch forward will probably come off the bench now that Kris Humphries is also aboard, though he'll have plenty of time as the primary backup behind Hump and Gerald Wallace.

Update: July, 4 by Jesse Reed at 5:49 p.m. EDT

The Nets successfully landed Mirza Teletovic. Better yet, the latest report from John Hillinger of ESPN.com states that they will sign him to a lesser deal than was originally thought:

A source close to the negotiations tells us that Bosnian forward Mirza Teletovic might not sign with Brooklyn for the non-taxpayer's midlevel exception, as originally reported, but for the taxpayer's midlevel, which is a smaller contract with a maximum of $3.09 million for the first year.

Hillinger goes on to say that this leaves the door open for the fabled Dwight Howard trade folks have been talking about.

--------End of Update--------

For those unfamiliar with Teletovic's game, he's a 26-year-old Euroleague scoring machine, but he's basically a spot up small forward playing in the body of a stretch power forward. His ability to defend at the NBA level is very much in question as he lacks lateral quickness to guard the three spot and lacks the size to defend in the post.

But there are many who carved out niches with far lesser talent than Teletovic and he could reach a Novak level of efficiency with the right point guard distributing him the ball.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Reggie Evans will be sign-and-traded to the Brooklyn Nets for a future second-round pick, according to Yahoo Sports. SI.com reports that Evans will get a 3-year contract worth $1.6 million per season.

Evans is not going to light things up from a scoring standpoint, but he's going to give the Nets a serious amount of energy, defense and rebounding off the bench. Combined with the addition of Mirza Teletovic, the Nets now have a formidable frontcourt bench presence.

The Hawks have agreed to deal All-Star guard Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets for five players and a draft pick, and Atlanta will send forward Marvin Williams to the Utah Jazz for guard Devin Harris...Atlanta will receive guards Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar and DeShawn Stevenson and forwards Jordan Williams and Johan Petro, along with a draft pick Brooklyn received from Houston in a prior deal. The selection only belongs to the Nets if it is not a lottery pick.

That's a lot of moving parts, but they managed to get the deal done.

Johnson's addition to this roster finally gives Deron Williams the offensive firepower he's been missing at the 2. He'll make a big impact for the team in a positive direction going forward.

D-12 Trade Talks Back on at Trade Deadline?

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Update: Monday, July 23 -- Maxwell Ogden

The Orlando Magic have been involved in a back-and-forth battle with the decision to keep or trade Dwight Howard for roughly a year. While it seems as if all signs have pointed to a potential trade, it appears as if the franchise will hold onto their embattled superstar.

An executive who has had discussions with the Magic regarding Howard said Orlando only will trade the star center in a deal that is great for the franchise. The executive said this has been Orlando's stance for the past "week or so."

Another executive who has talked with Orlando said he thinks the Magic may start the season with Howard and wait until the February trade deadline to move him.

This decision has been building up to for quite some time, with the Magic refusing deals from a handful of potential suitors. The question at this point, of course, is whether the team will indeed trade Howard come February or hold onto him and try their luck in free agency.

Darko's alternated between passive and awful during his decade in the NBA. It was rumored (wished?) that he was returning to Europe after this season, but he may get yet another shot on his sixth team. He WILL be on a minimum contract this time...

Nazr Mohammed a Target

Pool/Getty Images

Update: Sunday, July 22 -- Maxwell Ogden

The Chicago Bulls are one of many teams in need of some depth in the front court. With Omer Asik set to leave via free agency and the league driven by who can offer the most from top to bottom, they've gone out and done what every team should: sign a reserve.

Unfortunately for Nets fans, that reserve happens to have been a top target of the Brooklyn franchise. Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago has the report.

While the deal hasn't become official yet, the New York Post reported early Sunday that Mohammed has decided to sign with the Bulls over the Brooklyn Nets and both teams have been notified about the decision.

Nazr Mohammed last played in Oklahoma City, where he averaged 11.0 minutes per game. He's always been a valuable body in the paint due to his size and has 66 postseason games under his belt.

The Nets are close to adding Nazr Mohammed as their backup center. This is an absolutely necessary move behind the defensively-challenged Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries and Mirza Teletovic.

Mohammed is a proven professional who's played for high-quality outfits like the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's a sure-fire guy who will be a more reliable (and content) contributor than Darko Milicic, who had also been rumored for the same spot with the Nets.

The deal is almost done according to HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy:

Nazr Mohammed is close to signing with the Brooklyn Nets, according to source. He'll likely sign for the veteran's minimum in next 24 hours.

The Brooklyn Nets have compiled one of the most solid starting fives in the NBA. Their next step towards legitimacy is to add depth to their lineup, with the center position serving as their main focus in free agency.

Mohammed has spent the past year and a half with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he served in a similar role. His size and strength in the paint would certainly bolster the Nets' second unit and offer strength to the frontcourt.

Nets on Verge of Sign-and-Trade?

Chris Chambers/Getty Images

Update: Thursday, July 12 -- Joel C. Cordes

Having backed away from Dwight Howard, the Brooklyn Nets are still active on the trading front.

While Kris Humphries is already an unrestricted free agent who's unlikely to re-sign with them, the Nets are still shopping him as a sign-and-trade candidate. Antawn Jamison and the Cleveland Cavaliers seem the most likely target at the moment, though the Nets will try to squeeze out some returns regardless of where Humphries winds up.

MarShon Brooks is also on the docket, though not necessarily in conjunction with Humphries. While Brooks was solid last season and could be a 6th Man role player for the Nets this year, they are using him as a trade chip, presumably to snag additional veteran help.

This is an interesting proposal, as the Nets would add their second score-first, rebound-inept big man in the matter of 24 hours. While Jamison would improve the quality of the Nets' offense, we cannot deny how weak the pairing of he and Brook Lopez would be on the interior.

Defense wins championships and the Nets are setting themselves up to have one of the weakest in the league.

ESPN is reporting that Nets GM Billy King is meeting with Brook Lopez, their restricted free agent center, today. They'll either sign him to stay or be dealt to Orlando, but he's getting a contract either way.

Following up on @RicBucher report: Nets have told Magic if there's a Dwight Howard deal, must be done by end of business day

The Nets do not want Lopez to receive any outside offers, as that would finally foil their Howard plan: If they let Lopez walk, they don't have the assets to acquire Dwight. If they match a max deal for Lopez, then the parameters and timing of the contract may not be palatable to Orlando.

Why hadn't an outside team thought of and implemented this sabotage yet? Presumably because they didn't want to actually get stuck with Lopez on a max deal.

Even if Dwight were to wait until free agency next summer, he would have difficulty signing with the capped-out Nets. They would have to move Brook Lopez and or other contracts in order to bring him aboard.

Time is running out. It appears the Magic have 24 hours or less to deal with Brooklyn or let the opportunity pass them by.

According to Chad Ford of ESPN.com, a fourth team has emerged in the Dwight Howard trade talks. To help bring the deal along, the Los Angeles Clippers have stepped up as the potential suitors for one MarShon Brooks.

Just going up on ESPN. Clipoers will be 4th team in D Howard deal. They would take back MarShon Brooks in return for a lottery protected 1st

While losing Brooks would be painful for Nets fans with high expectations, it does offer a sense of comfort that he'd be headed to the Western Conference. Once he hits his prime, this offers only a relatively low chance that the Nets run into him come the postseason.

UPDATE 4: Monday, July 9 -- Maxwell Ogden

Just when you thought it was safe for MarShon Brooks, Adrian Wojnarowski drops a bomb on your dreams.

Brooklyn also would send Brooks to a fourth team to get them an additional first-round pick to send to the Magic.

No longer does this deal offer a sense of comfort. The question is, can the deal still be justified?

UPDATE 3: Monday, July 9 -- Maxwell Ogden

The Brooklyn Nets have long been concerned over the potential loss of shooting guard MarShon Brooks. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Brooks is no longer involved in the prospective trade for Dwight Howard.

Nets fans may not be comfortable with trading three or four first round draft choices. To acquire a player of Dwight Howard's caliber, as well as retaining a future star in Brooks, however, is far too sweet a deal to pass up on.

More will be reported as the deal progresses.

UPDATE 2: Monday, July 9 -- Joel C. Cordes

Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Dwight Howard trade parameters have expanded to include yet another team:

As if the Howard saga didn't already feel like a whirlpool, it appears that it's swirling around more and more players and franchises as we speak. This has the makings of an all-time NBA blockbuster deal; stay tuned here for latest updates.

Orlando Magic brass are apparently meeting at 9am Monday to discuss their options. While this deal had long appeared to be floundering, the Cleveland Cavaliers sudden interest in acquiring Nets free agent power forward Kris Humphries appears to be the new variable.

As reported by ESPN, the Cavaliers could also be receiving MarShon Brooks as part of the package, something the Orlando Magic had appeared disinterested in up to this point.

It is unknown yet which Cleveland players and/or picks would be heading to the Magic, but they would certainly have to contribute a reasonably large cache to the Brooklyn bevy of draft picks and Brook Lopez that are headed Orlando's way.

This story could be resolved by the end of the day, so stay tuned here for the latest updates.

New York is among the places he says he could end up next season. He says Portland also is still in the mix along with Phoenix and New Jersey.

“You’ve got a lot of teams, you know, different things that can happen,” Felton said. “So we’ll see what happens. You’ve got the draft coming up, and a lot of crazy things can happen during free agency – that’s just the way of the business.”

With the Jason Kidd-Deron Williams duo chase certainly in place, I think it's safe to say that Felton is a distant No. 3 on the Nets point guard wish list for the offseason.

Nets Still Working on Dwight Howard Trade, Interested in Derek Fisher Also

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UPDATE (7/7/12 at 11:54 am) by Maxwell Ogden

According to Marc. J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, the Brooklyn Nets are not yet out of the Dwight Howard trade talks. It just so happens that a percentage chance has been placed on their dreams of a D-Will and D-12 tandem.

Nets have "30 percent chance" of landing Dwight in trade but likely would turn attention to FAs if it cant be done in a week,source tells Y!

As Joel C. Cordes reported in Bleacher Report's Brook Lopez Free Agent Tracker, the Stanford alum is the key to these trade talks. Unfortunately, he's also stuck in neutral until a decision is made one way or another.

Brook Lopez goes as Dwight Howard goes, but that time may be coming to an end. The Brooklyn Nets center is a restricted free agent, but has yet to receive an offer from the Nets, or anyone else for that matter, until the Howard saga is finished.

Much like Brook Lopez, all we can do is wait.

--End of Update

The Nets are just not willing to let the dream of chasing Dwight Howard die.